Previewing Year 7 for Zion in New Orleans + Fred VanVleet suffered torn ACL | NBA Today

Previewing Year 7 for Zion in New Orleans + Fred VanVleet suffered torn ACL | NBA Today

Zian Williamson. The Pelicans will be holding their media day availability tomorrow where we’ll hear from Zion as he kicks off his seventh year in the NBA. Freshly minted executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumar spoke on his conversations with Williams this offseason. The main thing that I’ve talked to Zion about is just responsibility and accountability. I said, you know, what I’ve said to him is is, you know, with greatness comes responsibility. uh you don’t get to be great and not responsible. Zylon has been great. I’ve not had any issues with him. He’s been working extremely hard. I I I see him probably for the last month in and out of the practice facility. Um really really pushing himself hard. So I uh have been happy with him this summer. Um but still at the end of the day, man, you got to be responsible and accountable for everything you do. All right, welcome in here to the studio. George Sidano in for Malikica Andrews today joined by the Hall of Famer Mark Spears, Ramona Shelurn, our insider Sham Shirania, and our NBA front office insider Bobby Mark. So, welcome to everybody. Thank you for all hanging out today. All right, Mark, let’s start with you. With greatness comes tons of responsibility. How do you feel about Zion year 7? Will we see greatness? Well, the day before I went fishing in New Orleans, I had dinner with Willie Green and he he talked in high uh esteem about Zion. They were actually out here Lyola Marry Mount University, the whole team working out, playing five on five. He said, “Zion looked great. Uh, great shape, and he’s showing a lot of more leadership. I mean, this is a guy that’s uh only played over 30 games twice in his career, missed a whole season, only played 30 games last season, but when Zion plays, they win.” And Willie Green also said, “When Zion plays, he’s one of the best players in the league.” I don’t I don’t deny that either, but it’s always if Zion plays. And uh to me like if the Pelicans want to be special and their roster, if you look at their roster, it’s a lot deeper and better than I think a lot of people think. But Zion, a healthy Zion has to take him there. Responsibility and accountability, those are two words that Joe Dumar said, and that’s what he has brought. This is the first executive change, new head of bass operations that Zion Williamson has had since he’s been in the NBA. And that is something that’s very important. Z Williamson was suspended last year for being late to a team plane. But tardiness, that is an issue that Joe Dumar has been very vocal with Zion Williamson. Like, I’m going to come in. I’m going to hold you accountable. I’m going to hold you responsible each and every day. And that comes with habits. That comes with being on time. And I do think Zion Williamson when he’s on the court, he is as good as any player. He has the impact of just about any player toward winning. is just how can you get him on the court and get it get it getting him to play on a sustained level. But how this Pelican season start, I’m very curious to see. A lot of people have their eyes on. Yeah, I saw Joe and Zion together at summer league and they were chatting a lot watching that Pelicans team. And speaking of that summer league team, so Joe Dumar’s got a lot of grief for his draft obviously of Derek Queen. He was asked about that particular uh draft selection and he said that the Pelicans don’t have a playoff or bust mentality. Bobby, should they? Well, listen, when you trade a potential lottery pick, which was sent to Atlanta as far as to go up and get Derek Queen at the 13th pick, there are expectations for us to at least probably compete for one of these playing spots. And when you look at next year’s draft, which you’re looking at Darren Peterson or AJ Deansa, one of those two players could potentially be in in an Atlanta uniform. I will say this, having tra traded for an unprotected pick, which was a Clipper pick that we thought was going to be great in New Jersey, that pick wind up turning out to be the 24th pick in the draft. So, you what looks good in in July is not always what’s going to happen. But when there’s a lot of pressure in New Orleans as far as not seeing a top five pick convey to Atlanta with that Derek Queen trade. Well, I think it’s just health for the whole team. It’s not just Zion. It’s Trey Murphy. I mean, he was having he’s become one of the best 3 and D guys in the games and it and her like these are these are great players that they all miss significant time last year due to injuries and so when you just don’t when you don’t have Zion and then you don’t have five other guys then I don’t even know what the Pelicans have but I actually think the expectations are so low that there’s not really any pressure on them anymore. Damen Lillard back with the franchise he spent 11 memorable years with. Was the star of the Trailblazer rally yesterday. Check out the turnout at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Here’s what Dame had to say about coming home. Being back in this city, you know, has brought a different type of joy back to my life, you know, and my spirit. So, I’m I’m happy to be back. having this type of team, young depth, you know, future stars of the league, being able to contribute to their success and be a part of that. Um, I think it’s going to open the door to to bring back a lot of a lot of special moments to Rip City. [Music] We got to do a Dame theme top of the top now. His top plays as a Blazer. First up, top logo Lillard. There’s a number of these in 2020 before the world shut down. pulled up on the Rockets from way deep. Then about eight months later in the bubble, he pulls up from even deeper. He just slows you down and kind of brings you in and just boom, from deep. I don’t think people realize how far that is. Yeah. And then in 2023, flatfooted right in front of his new teammate, Drew Holiday. Steph Curry, this guy Clay. Well, Clay don’t shoot it that far, right, Trey? Top dribble drives for Dame. This in 2012 across the street here against the Lakers when he had hops. I remember those young legs. I don’t think he has those legs anymore, unfortunately. All right. Then in 2015, the drive, an insane reverse layup here against the T-Wolves. No foul. No foul, apparently. Is that Ricky Rubio? Might be. Yeah. And then 2020 again drives and dunks on two Lakers here. Hey, is that Danny? Take the ball out, Danny. Packed it in. AD was trailing there, too. And last one. Top Dame time. His first ever NBA gamewinner. Came as a rookie in 2012 against the Hornets. We’ve seen a lot of those. No doubt. Ryan. Fast forward 2014 playoffs. He sends the Rockets home at the buzzer. And of course 2019 against OKC and Paul George said it was a bad shot. Where’s Houston at? Where’s Houston? Houston’s about to change. Dynamic for a lot of teams here. Yep. He broke the thunder up there. So, all right, we’ve got breaking news here on the show. Our NBA insider Sham Shirani. What do you got, George? This Justin Fred Van Vleet, the Rockets starting guard, their leader. He has suffered a torn ACL. This is a devastating blow, potentially season ending injury for Fred Van Vleet. He is out with a torn ACL. I’m told he suffered the injury clearly very recently here. I know he’s been back working out at different points. Was just named the president of the MVPA this off season as well, but he has suffered a torn ACL for a team in Houston that expected to be one of the championship contenders this upcoming season. They just acquired Kevin Durant. They have a men Thompson, Alper and Sangon. This is a pretty deep loaded team. But now they will be without their starting point guard, their veteran leader potentially for the entire 2025 2026 NBA season. Wow, that is devastating news. Bobby, the Rockets were the second favorite out of the West according to ESPN Bet. What do you make of this? Uh it’s devastating because one of the things to watch for Houston going into training camp was the thin point guard position here and and the player who I had an X-factor was Reed Shepard, last year’s lottery pick as far as him coming off the bench. Now you’re looking at it between Shepard and Aaron Holiday who they resigned in the offseason. That’s your back court there. There’s a lot of pressure on this Rocket team that went all in this summer going out and trading for Kevin Kevin Durant. What do you think this means for KD now in his role there? Point forward. You gotta be creative right now. Um, you know, I’m excited about Reed Shepard. He didn’t expect this opportunity. A lot of people are very, very high on him. Hey, he’s going to have to get an opportunity right now, but there’s still time and Shans know this better than me that they could try to work some magic to bring another point guard in. Yeah. I mean, Reed Shepard did ball out in the G-League, bald out at Summer League. It’s Reed Shepard time. Fred Vanble has been through so much in his career just to make it to this point. Undrafted. He set all these records. He signed multiple of these massive deals. Uh just signed a two-year $50 million deal, but he got paid. Fred Van Vleet out the entire potentially the entire NBA season. Torn ACL. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause]

On NBA Today, Jorge Sedano is joined by Marc J. Spears, Ramona Shelburne, Shams Charania and Bobby Marks as they address Joe Dumars’ comments about Zion Williamson ahead of his seventh season with the New Orleans Pelicans. The panel also reacts to Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet suffering a torn ACL, which could potentially end his season.

0:00 Dumars on Zion
3:17 Reviewing the Hawks-Pelicans trade
4:19 Lillard back in Portland
7:00 Fred VanVleet suffered torn ACL

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